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Braves' Terdoslavich still swinging a hot bat

Braves' Terdoslavich still swinging a hot bat

Braves infield prospect Joe Terdoslavich entered the offseason on a high after a dominant season with Class A Advanced Lynchburg. Now he's showing people he's ready to take the next step.

Terdoslavich hammered his first homer and improved his league-leading average to .462 as the first-place Surprise Saguaros beat the Mesa Solar Sox, 8-3, in the Azizona Fall League on Monday.

The first baseman finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, and he has hit safely in nine of his 10 AFL outings.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2010 Draft, Terdoslavich flew out to center field in his first at-bat, but he gave the Saguaros the lead on a two-run homer with two outs in the fourth inning. The switch-hitting slugger worked his way into a hitter's count against Solar Sox starter Jake Petricka (White Sox) before depositing the right-hander's 3-1 offering over the right-field wall.

The Florida native walked and stole second base in the sixth, and he singled and scored Surprise's sixth run of the game in the ninth.

Terdoslavich's bright start in the first two weeks of the AFL season comes on the heels of a successful Minor League campaign, highlighted by Mid- and Postseason All-Star Game selections and an historic achievement.

On Monday, Royals outfielder Wil Myers went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored for Surprise, while shortstop Tim Beckham (Rays) reached base three times and plated two runs. Rangers southpaw Miguel De Los Santos (2-0) earned the win despite allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five batters.

Robbie Grossman (Pirates) collected three more hits to raise his AFL average to .406 in a losing cause. Fellow Pittsburgh farmhand Nathan Baker (1-1) surrendered two runs on three hits while striking out one batter in an inning of relief.

Ashley Marshall is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.